Sugar Free

Written By: Deanna Marie Battista

Welcome blue ribbons! You’ve got mail. With this letter from heaven the angels sent us, I am going to reflect one of the most potent lessons that God has traced within my heart. This is a journey that I have avidly tried over the years to avoid. Through the distractions, trials, and minor collective trance to purchase and keep ahold of material things, this has been something that I always knew I would have to face head on. So during this season of Lent, this was one of several things I chose to give up. Things that make our lives sweeter can sometimes become a replacement, a crutch or even a bad habit in a ritualistic sense when we start to “care" and “tend” to fix and set our eyes and mind on it before God. So scrolling through social media, making countless pinterest boards, and having a growing collection of filler and fluff to bring a smile to my previously wounded soul; I have come to find that the greater danger of this silliness is when we don’t attune our diets to a healthier standard that can help us to aid in a better tomorrow. The exact same notion can be said about our prayer and faith life. When we start to go through the day to day and fill our well with many beautiful things, it’s alright, as long as we always remember to keep God at the forefront. He should be the first thing you think of when you wake up and the last thing you think of before you go to sleep at night. Easier said than done for most of us, yes. But trying is only half the battle. To keep trying, pruning away at the unnecessary and sugar within our lives that we simply just don’t need more of. So for me personally, actually cutting back on real sugar to stick to a proper anti- inflammatory diet is something that I’ve been working on these past several months. I have also ingrained this adaptive creed to set my eyes on my Father in heaven and keep him first in my heart and never second. So with the time that I used to spend window shopping, actual shopping, or collectively purchasing things to help cushion the blows of trials; I also along the way away from this- filled my home with things that speak to my soul. Many sacramentals, a multitude of catholic educational books, hundreds if not thousands of pages to all my manuscripts and outlining materials from all the books I have written, and of course a never ending supply of light blue pens. I think some things are necessary. Some things are even an indulgence. But when it starts to become something that is a part of the forefront of our day and we spend more time collecting sugar we don’t need rather than talking to our Father in prayer, that’s a big problem. So with a life size crayon piggy bank, a gumball machine, bo peep’s shepherd’s crook and giant lollipop prop, these reflect my personality, my quirkiness and overall me, Deanna Marie. But at the same time decluttering my mind, heart and soul from spiritual warfare has been the best battle that I have ever won to date. I am so thankful to God and what he has taught me and still continues to teach. What used to be chaos and confusion that lined my bedroom walls now instead are garnered with prayer cards and statues of Jesus and crosses. Instead of diving into other worldly things not knowing the risk, I now carry my ever growing bible in my hands, sticky notes and sparkly page tabs sticking out of it and all. I have come so far in the long walk to follow Jesus. Yet I still have an even further walk to truly grow as close as I know I will be able to one day. So where the insidiousness has been cut out and pruned away; I can admit the meaningless fluff still remained. Even if some things bring a smile to your face, the important message from this letter to note is to not let it be the only reason you smile that day. Jesus is always waiting for us. He will always guide us. The rewards from the gifts of lessons we may even try to avoid will be worth so much more if we just listen. All we are doing aside from building our own staircases to heaven, is finding the better versions of ourselves God is helping us mold through with each step at a time. So with decluttering and the biggest spring/ summer cleaning coming my way, I’m ready. I’m ready for this journey God has gifted me. Until the next letter from heaven falls down, use my experience as a guide to help you further your way towards God and away from the worldly things this world will offer to us endless. Have an appetite for heaven, where all things are sugar-free because what more sweet could it be with Jesus set forth all around thee.

Yours Truly, 

       Deanna Marie  

Always Writing with Light